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No attempt will be made in these lessons to define the Holy Spirit.

The subject will be considered from the practical rather than from the theoretical side.

We know that the Holy Spirit is:

• Omnipresent – Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?…Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. Psalm 139:7-12
• Eternal Spirit – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14
• The Comforter – And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16
• The Spirit of truth – Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17.

It is of much more importance to us that we receive the Spirit than that we try to discern what it is.

Holy Ghost  and Holy Spirit are from the same original words, and seem to be used interchangeably in the King James Version.

The Spirit Belongs To The Children Of God

Questions on John 1:11-13

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1. To whom did Christ come?
2. With what result?
3. Did any receive Him?
4. What did He give to them?
5. Of whom were they born?
6. Was this the natural birth?

Questions on Galatians 4:4-6

 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

1. When did God send forth His Son?
2. How was He born?
3. Why was He so born?
4. What are we to receive?
5. Why is the Spirit sent into our hearts?
6. What does the Spirit cry?

Questions on Acts 2:37-39

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

1. What had the people heard?
2. What result followed?
3. What inquiry did they make?
4. What two duties were enjoined?
5. What gift was promised?
6. To whom was the promise made?

Overview

The faith in Christ makes us children of God.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26.

Furthermore, the Spirit is given because we are sons (daughters).

 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6.

Therefore, Paul asked the believers if they had received the Holy Spirit .

Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We h*ave not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. Acts 19:2.

All things are ours: For all things are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. 1 Corinthians 3:21, 23.

Nevertheless, God does not give spiritual blessings against our will.

Therefore, we are to ask for the Spirit, with the assurance that He will give willingly.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 7:7, 8.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? Luke 11:13.

This the disciples did

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen;

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:2, 5, 14.

Their request was granted

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4.

The promise that was fulfilled to them is for us also.

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Joel 2:28, 29.

Conclusion

The possession of the Spirit indicates a union with God.

And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.1 John 3:24.

No one can be Christ’s without it.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, He is none of His. Romans 8:9.

Christ bestowed His Spirit upon His disciples.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost;

John 20:21, 22.

We are exhorted to be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18, and receive the Spirit by faith. Galatians 3:2.

References:

1. Lessons on the Spirit – 1892
2. E. G. White Writings
3. King James Bible Version

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